Wimmera pre-schoolers are set to receive a boost as they make the jump from kinder to primary school thanks to the Victorian government's School Readiness Funding program.
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Kindergartens and other early learning service providers across the region will receive funding as part of the scheme.
Horsham Rural City will receive over $275,000 spread across eight kindergartens, followed by Northern Grampians Shire with $197,000, Ararat Rural City with $90,000 Hindmarsh with $58,000, Bulokewith $55,000, West Wimmera with $36,000 and Yarriambiack with $9,000.
Member for Western Victoria, Jaala Pulford said the initiative addressed gaps in educational disadvantage by building the capacity of services, educators and families to support children's learning and development.
"We are making sure children in the Wimmera have the supports they need for the education they deserve and this funding will help our local kinders best prepare our children for school," Ms Pulford said.
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This funding is part of a larger $53.9 million package from the Victorian Government's $160 million School Readiness Funding initiative.
Services will receive a funding allocation based on the level of need from children in their programs, with support available to all three- and four-year-old children in funded kinder programs including sessional and long day care.
The support allows kindergarten services to select the package of resources and programs that best reflects the needs of their children and staff - which can include programs targeting speech, language and literacy, support for culturally and linguistically diverse children and families and tools for parents to support their child's development.
Services can also use funding to tap into the expertise of speech and occupational therapists, language and literacy professionals and child psychologists - who can boost the capability of both parents and teachers.
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Minister for Early Learning, Ingrid Stitt, said the service will focus on growing communication, social and emotional wellbeing skills, as well as improving access and inclusion.
"We are ensuring kindergarten services have the resources they need to deliver high-quality programs that support all our children so that they can fully participate and get the most out of their early learning years," she said.
"This needs-based funding will improve outcomes in communication, social and emotional wellbeing, access and participation so that all our children are on track to have the best start to school and are on par with their peers."
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